Railway-switch



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. I. VERNON.

RAILWAY SWITCH. No. 522,568. 1 Patented July 3, 1894 (No Model.) 3 Sheets -Sheet 2.

J. I. VERNON. RAILWAY SWITCH.

No. 522,568." Patented July 3, 1894.

'o w v (No M o 1el.) a Sheets-Sheet 3-. J.'I. VERNON.

RAILWAY SWITGH.' N0. v 522,568. v Patented July 3, 1894,

able point frogs and slips. Prior to this invention in crossings of this tion with relation to the slip points.

UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH I. VERNON, OF MANSFIELD, nssrenon- OF ONE-HALE TO WILLIAM a r. ELLIS, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

RAI LWAY- ISWIITC H.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 522,568, dated July 3, 1894.

Application filed January 2, 1894. Serial No, 495,420. (No model.) I

1'0 ail whom it may concern.-

Be 1t known that I, JOSEPH I. VERNON, of Mansfield, county of Bristol, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Ra lway-Switches, of which the following descrlptlon, in connection with the accompany- 1mg drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like, parts.

This invention in railway switches has especlal reference to crossings fitted with movkind, it has been customary to employ independent switch levers for operating or throwmg the frog points and the slip points, thereby making it possible to throw the slip points w1thout throwing the frog points, or vice versa. The fact that the slip points could be moved without also moving the frog points lnto corresponding proper position, has been found such an element of danger that the movable frog points have been frequently removed and the old type of frog substituted therefor.

The object of this present invention is to so improve the construction of switches of the above class as to render it practically impossibleto have the frog points in a wrong posi- This is accomplished by so interlocking the switch actuating levers or their connections as to compel the several points to be moved in certain predetermined order which insures the safety of trains operated over the crossing.

The preferred construction of apparatus, together with the'operation of the same, will be hereinafter more particularly set forthin the specification and the essential features of the invention pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 of the drawings represent in dia-' gram a preferred embodiment of my invention as used for main line work, the same employing three switch operating levers; ,Fig; 2, a similar view showing the points thrown into other positions, and Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6, diagrams showing modified forms of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, a, a, b, b, c, c, and cl, d, are the fixed rails of two crossing tracks, which will be hereinafter referred to as the tracks A-B and G- D, the track A-D in Figs. 1 and 2, being the main orprincipal line. The Outer track rails a, c and b, d, are

joined respectively by the curved slip rails e and f, while the inner track rails a, c and b, d, are joined respectively by the slip rails e and f, as shown. The inner slip rail e terminates at its opposite ends in the movable slip points a and c, oo-operating with the inner track rails a, c, and the inner slip rail f terminates at its opposite ends in the movable slip points I) and d, co-operating with the fixed track rails b and cl. The inner track rails a, 'b, c, d, terminate'respectively at their ends adjacent the crossing points or frogs, in the movable frog points it, ,h k and h the points 71/ and h co-operating with the fixed or stock frog rail it, while the points It and h co-operate with the fixed or stock rail h as shown. The stock rail k terminates at its opposite ends in the movable slip points a. and c co-operating with the track rails a and c, and the stock-rail h terminates at its opposite ends in the movable slip points I) and d co-operating with the track'rails b and d. r.

M, N and 0 represent three switch stands of suitable or usual type or construction,the same being provided respectively with switch operating levers m, n and o. r

The lever m in the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is connected with and to reciprocate the reach rod m mounted to move longitudinally in usual roller or other standards 107?, said rod m at its outer end being jointed to the bell crank m connected by means of the switch rod m with the tie bar m joining the slip points a. and a The switch lever 0 Figs. 1 and/2 is connected with and to reciprocate the reach rod 0' mounted to reciprocate in suitable standards m and is jointed at its'outer' end to'the bell crank O in turn jointed to the switch rod 0 connected with the tie bar 0 joining the slip points d and 61 The middle switch lever n, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and preferably, is jointed to thelong reach rod n at a point betweenthe ends of the latter, as shown, said rod n at its opposite ends .being jointed respectively to the'bell cranks n and n ,in turn connected by switch rodsnfin with the tie bars 41 ,717, joining respectively the slip points I) and b and c and c 1 In the embodiment of my invention Figs. '1

and 2, I also connect the frog points with and to be moved by the reach rod or and switch lever 'n, and, referring to the drawings, in the preferred construction the said rod it between its ends is jointed to the bell cranks h, if, in turn connected by the switch rods 72. it, with the tie bars 7L8, h", joining respectively the frog points h, h and 71?, M.

P and P are usual stationary frogs at the crossings of the rails a Z) and c d.

To compel proper movements of the several switch levers, I have interlocked the same, the said lovers in Figs. 1 and 2, being so interlocked as to compel movements of the levers m and 0 in advance of the lever a when the points are moved from their positions Fig. 1, completing the main and principalline, and to compel movement of the lever n in ad- Vance of the lovers m and 0 when the points are in the position Fig. 2, completing the other or crossing line.

Any desired locking devices may be employed, either in connection with the levers themselves, or the connections of the levers, the locking devices, as herein shown, consisting of lugs s and s on the reach rods m and n, and the lugs s and s on the rods 0 and n.

Referring, now, to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the several points are in position for the main or principal line A-D, the crossing track B being thrown upon the slip f, f, and the track 0 upon the slip c, e. To throw the points into position Fig.2 for the track B-C, it is first necessary to throw the switch levers m and o to the left to thereby move the slip points a, a and (1, (1 into position Fig. 2, turning the tracks A and D onto the slips as shown, so that any train entering the crossing over either of these tracks before the frog points have been turned, will not be overturned by the said frog points,but will bedirected over the slips upon the tracks 0 or B. After the levers in and 0 have been turned, then and not till then can the lever 77. be turned, turning of the latter throwing the slip points 11', b 0', c and all four of the frog points into position Fig. 2, completing the track B-G. To move the points back again into position Fig. 1, completingtheprincipal line A-D, the lever '21 must first be turned back into its position Fig. 1, reversing the frog points and throwing the slip points Z), 11 and c, 0 into their positions Fig. 1, directed upon the slips e, e, and f,f so that any trains entering over the tracks B or C will be directed upon the slips, the still unmoved points a and cl yielding in usual manner sufficiently to permit the trains to pass onto the tracks A and D in safety. The tracks A and D, however, are still protected by the points a, a and (1', (1 still remaining turned upon the slips. After the lever 11 has been returned to its position Fig. 1, then and not till then can the levers m and 0 be returned to their positions Fig. 1, moving the slip points a, a and (1', and (1 also into position Fig. 1, completing the main line A-D. It will thus be seen that the main line A-D is always protected for trains in either direction by the slips.

It will be seen that the frog points can never be moved in advance of the slip points when such an advance movement would disarrange the track and render trains liable to derailment.

While I prefer to group the switch levers as shown, ata convenient point, and to interlock them in themanner shown, yet it is evident the switch actuating levers may be placed in any desired positions or locations and interlocked in any desired manner other than that herein shown if found necessary to meet vary ing requirements.

In Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noticed that the slip points a and a and (l and (l in the main line are operated by independent levers, and that the points h and b 0' and e are coupled with and operated at the same time as the frog points. I prefer this arrangement when the switch is introduced into a main line for the reason that it is desirable to have both pairs of points in the main line move independently of each other, and of the frog points, in order that their movements may notbe hindered or obstructed by any accident to the frog points or their connections. The crossing or branch track B-C, however, being of less importance, may have its slip points connected with and moved at the same time as the frog points to save time in changing the switch.

hen the crossing is located in a yard where one line is used as much as another, I may connect the points a, a and (1, d with asingle lever, as for instance, a lever rin a stand R, see Fig. 3, so that they will be thrown in unison, two levers being then required instead of three as in Figs. 1 and 2.

If desired, the points I) and b and c and 0 may be operated by independent levers instead of by a common lever, as shown, they being, however, suitably locked with relation to the other points to insure safety in operation.

In Figs. 4, 5, and 6, I have shown my invention adapted for use in connection with a single actuating lever, all of which embody connections and modes of operation well known and common in switch constructions.

In Fig. 4-, the switch rods 72 m h, h", a, and o are connected respectively to crank pins on the pinions r, 0*, r r r r, the pinions r and r in mesh with the rack r, the pinions r r, in mesh with the rack '1, and the pinions r o in mesh with the rack r The several racks are connected as shown to be moved in unison by the single actuating lever B, which has two throws to the left from its position Fig. 4., each throw being through an angle of forty-five degrees more or less.

The crank pins on the respective pinions are so positioned that the first quarter throw of the lever B, moves the rods m and 0 but the crank pins of the other rods simply move past their dead centers Without appreciably moving their respective rods. The second throw of the lever R,-moves the rods 71., h, h and 01 but does not move the rods m and the latter now moving past their respective dead centers.

In Fig. 5, I have shown theseveral switch rods M, W, h, h", n and 0 provided respectvely'wlth the rollstuds s, s, 5 5, s s mov- 1ng 1n cam grooves 8 s", and 5 as shown, in-

the cam plates .9 s and s. The several cam plates are connected to be moved in unison by the lever S, successive throws of which produce through the cam grooves, precisely the same movements as the mechanism Fig. 4.

sant with switch construction and need not therefore be herein further described in detail.

This invention is not restricted to the particular construction or arrangement of devices herein shown and described, for it is evident I the same may be varied and still come within the spirit and scope of the invention and accomplish the desired end.

Referring to Fig. 1, it is necessary that the slip points in line'AD be moved to turn said line onto the slips before the frog points are turned,and interlocking devices are provided for this purpose. 1 But if the interlocking devices are such as in Fig.1 to compel movements of the slip points in line AD first and the frog points last, then the same interlocking devices must necessarily in Fig. 2 compel return movement of the frogs in advance of'return movement of the slip points in said lineA-D. On the other hand, it mustnot be possible to return the frog points from their position Fig. 2 to position Fig. 1, without at the same'time movingthe slip'points in the line BO also back into their position Fig. 1, to protect said line 3-0, and it istherefore necessary to connect the slip points in the line 13-0 with the frog points so that the slip points are moved whenever the frog points aremoved, leaving the slip points in the line AD movable indpendently of the slip points in the line BO and the frog points. Of course this arrangement may be exactly reversed and the slip points in the line AD connected with the frog points and the slip points inthe line 13-0 operated independently.

The gist of my invention therefore consists in connecting two sets of slip points in the same line and at opposite sides the frog points with and to be operated at the same time as the said frog points whenever thellatter are moved, and providing such mechanism as shall permit the two sets of slip points in the other line to be operated independ- V ently of the first mentioned slip and the frog points, and so interlocking the several points either by means of separate interlocking devices or by means of the switch throwing devices themselves as shall compel the several points to be moved in the-manner set forth in the specification, so that it shall ,be impossible to have the frog points in a wrong position with relation to the slip points.

The term interlocking devices as used 7 in the claims includes interlocking devices independent of the mechanism for actually moving the switch points, or such a construction of switch point operating mechanism as shall in itself constitute an interlocking mechan= ism to compel movement of the points in the manner described. v

I claim- 1. In a railway switch, two lines of fixed track rails crossing each other, movable point frogs at the crossing points of said lines of track, slip rails connecting said two lines of fixed track rails, two sets of slip points in one of saidlines of track and located at opposite sides said point frogs, connectionsbetween said point frogs and said slip points to insure the movement of one with the other,

means for moving the same, combined with two independent sets of slip points in the other line of track and located at opposlte sides the said point frogs, means to operate saidlast named slip points independently of said first named slip points and of their con? nected point frogs, and interlocking devices to operate therewith, substantially .as described. A p p 2. Fixed track and slip rails, 'the former arranged to constitute two lines of track crossing each other; movable frog points at the. crossing points of the two lines; four sets of slip points two in each set; independent le= vers to operate two of said sets in the same line at opposite sides of said frog points,

-means to move the other two sets of slip points and also said frog points, and interlocking devices, to operate, substantially as described.

3. Fixed track and slip rails, the former arranged to constitute two lines of track, one crossing the other, movable frog points; slip points arranged infour sets of two each, two sets in each line of track at opposite sides of said frog points, a single switch operating lever connected with and to operate said frog points and two sets of slip points in the same line of track; independent actuating levers connected with and to operate each of the remaining sets of slip points; and interlocking devices, to operate, substantially as described. I

name to this specification in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

" JOSEPH I. VERNON.

' Witn esses:

' AUGUSTA E. DEAN,

FREDERICK L. EMERY. 

